My flash test....

[vtf]

It must be broken, send it to me and I give it a good home.

This might be because I put two photos together? Does it show two sets of data?

I realized that, was suprised that the exif info still showed.

 

[BuS_RiDeR]

In the first one... I think I prefer the one on the left. I prefer the flash on the others.

 

[John Mc]

I much Prefer the Natural Light shot's with the exceptions to the middle one. Did you use the flash for a reason? or was it just to use it?

 

[ababysean]

just to use it.

I mostly shoot outdoors in natural light, but I've been really upset lately about the crappy shadows that are in my shots.

I am also working more with a reflector, so really I just want something to help with the shadows. Also, I have this flash, might as well play with it.

 

[John Mc]

Fair enough I dont shoot much portraits,and theres not much sun here in scotland,so i only get really moody Landscape's. But im trying to shoot more in studio's

 

[Derrel]

This is the kind of testing that will help your work become much better. It's great to see you doing these types of side-by-side tests! Thanks for posting some of your results.

 

[tirediron]

Consider spending a few dollars on a second-hand flash-meter.

 

[ababysean]

so another thing for Nikon shooters....

I was using a cowboys wireless trigger but the battery ran out (of the trigger part that goes on the camera, takes AAA, I only had AA) so I was using my on camera flash to trigger my sb-600 off camera. I did not want that flash to really be noticed, so I put it as low as it could go, just to trigger the SB-600.

How do you trigger your lights? with the camera flash, or a trigger, and if you use your on camera flash, does it affect the photo, I'm assuming it does, but how?

 

[ababysean]

Consider spending a few dollars on a second-hand flash-meter.

I'm trying to find one! I want one so bad, but I can not find one for under 200 dollars! I don't have that right now, or anytime in the future....

 

[tirediron]

$86 (Including shipping)

$80 - 100

 

[Stradawhovious]

I did not want that flash to really be noticed, so I put it as low as it could go, just to trigger the SB-600.

How do you trigger your lights? with the camera flash, or a trigger, and if you use your on camera flash, does it affect the photo, I'm assuming it does, but how?

I don't know if it is different on the D90, but on mine I can actually turn the pop-up flash "off". It will sent the signal to the strobe, but allegedly not fire while the shutter is open. I have hear people say that there is in impact on the image from the on camera by doing this, but if there is, it certainly doesn't bother me. In the commander mode settings, you can set the on camera flash to "--". That will do it.

here are a couple images that show what I mean. (click if for some reason you want to see them bigger)

The first is with the pop up and strobe at TTL. The popup is (obviously) at the 6:00 position, and the strobe is at the 3:30 ish.


The second is with the onboard set to "--" and the strobe to TTL. Both at pretty much the same positions.



Not good pictures, I know, (they weren't meant to be, they were just for illustration) but at least you get the idea. Also, the on camera commander mode might be pretty useless if there is a lot of ambient light. The radio trigger will be the way to go for that.

 

[jake337]

so another thing for Nikon shooters....

I was using a cowboys wireless trigger but the battery ran out (of the trigger part that goes on the camera, takes AAA, I only had AA) so I was using my on camera flash to trigger my sb-600 off camera. I did not want that flash to really be noticed, so I put it as low as it could go, just to trigger the SB-600.

How do you trigger your lights? with the camera flash, or a trigger, and if you use your on camera flash, does it affect the photo, I'm assuming it does, but how?

In commander mode put your on camera flash to M= --. It will still flash to trigger your sb600 and if your worried about it use a pop-up flash diffuser, bounce card, etc. It is a second flash so you can bounce it or diffuse it to add contrast to the photo.

I remember seeing a shoe mount bounce plate for pop up flashes in a thread before and now I can't find it. It attached to the hot shoe and was positioned in front of the pop up flash. You could swivel the plate at different angels. I remember it being pretty small and be very usefull if you have only one flash to add a second flash bounced off a wall or ceiling. I've been searching google for a lil bit now and can't find it anywhere...grrrr.

 

[ababysean]

so another thing for Nikon shooters....

I was using a cowboys wireless trigger but the battery ran out (of the trigger part that goes on the camera, takes AAA, I only had AA) so I was using my on camera flash to trigger my sb-600 off camera. I did not want that flash to really be noticed, so I put it as low as it could go, just to trigger the SB-600.

How do you trigger your lights? with the camera flash, or a trigger, and if you use your on camera flash, does it affect the photo, I'm assuming it does, but how?

In commander mode put your on camera flash to M= --. It will still flash to trigger your sb600 and if your worried about it use a pop-up flash diffuser, bounce card, etc. It is a second flash so you can bounce it or diffuse it to add contrast to the photo.

I remember seeing a shoe mount bounce plate for pop up flashes in a thread before and now I can't find it. It attached to the hot shoe and was positioned in front of the pop up flash. You could swivel the plate at different angels. I remember it being pretty small and be very usefull if you have only one flash to add a second flash bounced off a wall or ceiling. I've been searching google for a lil bit now and can't find it anywhere...grrrr.

you must be speaking of a light scoop?
I'll have to find the commander mode M=--

 

[jake337]

so another thing for Nikon shooters....

I was using a cowboys wireless trigger but the battery ran out (of the trigger part that goes on the camera, takes AAA, I only had AA) so I was using my on camera flash to trigger my sb-600 off camera. I did not want that flash to really be noticed, so I put it as low as it could go, just to trigger the SB-600.

How do you trigger your lights? with the camera flash, or a trigger, and if you use your on camera flash, does it affect the photo, I'm assuming it does, but how?

In commander mode put your on camera flash to M= --. It will still flash to trigger your sb600 and if your worried about it use a pop-up flash diffuser, bounce card, etc. It is a second flash so you can bounce it or diffuse it to add contrast to the photo.

I remember seeing a shoe mount bounce plate for pop up flashes in a thread before and now I can't find it. It attached to the hot shoe and was positioned in front of the pop up flash. You could swivel the plate at different angels. I remember it being pretty small and be very usefull if you have only one flash to add a second flash bounced off a wall or ceiling. I've been searching google for a lil bit now and can't find it anywhere...grrrr.

you must be speaking of a light scoop?
I'll have to find the commander mode M=--

No it wasn't a light scoop. It attached to the hot shoe and had two small arms that held a "plate" or bounce card directly in front of the pop up flash. And the "plate" was adjustable to different angles.

 

[redtippmann]

so another thing for Nikon shooters....

I was using a cowboys wireless trigger but the battery ran out (of the trigger part that goes on the camera, takes AAA, I only had AA) so I was using my on camera flash to trigger my sb-600 off camera. I did not want that flash to really be noticed, so I put it as low as it could go, just to trigger the SB-600.

How do you trigger your lights? with the camera flash, or a trigger, and if you use your on camera flash, does it affect the photo, I'm assuming it does, but how?

I use a SU-800 for a bunch of reasons. 1. It has its own battery so its not taking any juice from the camera. 2. It is more powerful and I can trigger very reliably. 3. I think it looks like a cylon. 4. The signal is much less noticeable to the subject so you wont have pre-blinkers when the pre-flash goes off. 5. Even if the popup it set to "--" there still is plenty of residual photons coming from the camera and it is too noticeable for me to want to use it.

I also have some cactus triggers for my mono light or if I cant use CLS for some reason... And I use CLS all the time and you just need to get used to using +/- EV. So you might want to give it another try before you go buying a light meter.

I still have my light meter but it doesn't get much use. Even if I am shooting manual flash I still just use the histogram/LCD.